Heat exchange device



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Patented Nov. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES acess-11 maar EXCHANGE DEVICE Win W. Paget, Michigan City, Ind., assignor to Sullivan Machinery Company, a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 5, 1937, Serial No. 119,124 1o claims. (ci 251-240) This invention relates to heat exchange devices, and more particularly to an improved fluid compressor intercooler of the spiral flow type for cooling the compressed iiuid.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved heat exchange device. Another object is to provide an improved heat exchanger especially designed to use with iluid compressors for cooling the compressed fluid in an improved manner. A further object is to provide an improved heat exchanger of the spiral ilow type whereby the fluid to be cooled is directed in a spiral or volute path and having embodied therein improved cooling means of the so-called zig-zag J type for conducting the cooling liquid back and forth across the path of uid ow in a generally counter-current direction in relation to the fluid ow'ing through the iiuid passage, so that the iiuid is cooled in an extremely eiective manner. Yet another object is t-o provide an improved intercooler for a fluid compressor. `A still further object is to provide an improved intercooler of a comparatively simple and compact character adapted, due to its improved design, to be manufactured in an inexpensive manner. Still another object is to provide an improved intercooler having improved means for supporting the flow guide sheet and water tubes and an improved passage arrangement for the cooling liquid and the iiuid to be cooled. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear in the course of the following description.

An intercooler constructed according to the illustrative embodiment of the invention, may comprise an outer horizontal cylindrical casing or shell having formed internally therein by means of a guide sheet a substantially spiral, volute or like passage for the fluid to be cooled, the end heads or so-called tube headersv closing the ends of the fluid passage, having formed therein spaces for cooling liquid and corresponding generally to the spiral arrangementV of the uid passage and connected by substantially horizontal cooling tubes extending longitudinally of the shell through the fluid passage, each of said cooling liquid spaces being divided by partitions into compartments so disposed that cooling liquid admitted to an upper compartment cf the liquid space in one header will iiow successively across through some tubes and back through others in zig-zag fashion and in a generally'counter-current direction in relation to the iiuid ilowing through the spiral fluid passage. A fluid intake pipe having a lateral aperture may serve to lead the fluid to be cooled centrally to the inner end of the iluid passage through an opening formed in the adjacent tube header, the iluid outlet from the uid passage being at the opposite end of the iluid passage at the inner periphery of the shell and connected through a lateral aperture to a fluid discharge pipe. 'Ihe cooling liquid may be admitted through a top inlet to one compartment of the outer convolution of the water space in the outer header at one end of the shell and, after vpassing back and forth through the tubes, be dischargedv through a bottom outlet from the last compartment of the inner convolution. If desired, the fluid ilow may be reversed and then, of course, the cooling liquid flow is correspondingly reversed, an'd also the cooling liquid may be admitted to the bottom compartment of the liquid space in the outer header instead of the top compartment.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown for purposes of illustration one form which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings.- v Fig. l is a plan view of the illustrative em bodiment of the improved intercooler.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the inter-I cooler shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally through the intercooler on line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken longitudinally through the intercooler on line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged end elevational view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 3, showing the compartments of the cooling liquid space in the outside header.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 1--1 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 8--8 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional View taken on line 9-5 of Fig. 7, showing one of the supports for the central guide sheet section.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line Ill-I0 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line II--II of Fig. 4.

In this illustrative embodiment of the invention i designates a cylindrical intercooler casing or shell having formed therein a cooling chamber 2 and a iluid receiving chamber 3, these chambers spaced llongitudinally within the shell and being separated by an internal shoulder providing'a. reduced intermediate bore 6. The outer end ofthe fluid receiving chamber 3 is closed by an end cover 5 bolted to the intercooler shell, While the outer end of the cooling chamber 2 is closed by a rigid tube plate 6 and outside header 1. As shown ln Fig. 3, the tube plate B is arranged between the adjacent end of the intercooler shell and the outside header, and the plate and header are secured as by boltsto the intercooler shell. A horizontal intake connection 3 communicates through a lateral aperture 3 with the iiuid receiving chamber 3, while the end of the inter- 5 cooler chamber remote from the chamber 3 has a. peripheral discharge communicating witha lateral aperture I 'oi a horizontal discharge connection II. Slidably guided within the intermediate reduced bore 4 between the chambers 2 l0 and 3 within the intercooler shell is a floating header I2 secured at its inner side as by bolts to a iloating tube plate I3, and said header and tube plate are formed with central openings I4 and I5 respectively, through which the fluid to l5 be cooled ows from the fluid receiving chamber 3 centrally within the central portion of the cooling chamber 2. Arranged. within the cooling chamber between the rigid tube plate 5 and the iloating tube plate I3 of the iloating header, is

means iordirecting the iluidto be cooled. in a spiral or volute path, and this 'iluid directing means comprises a fabricated guide sheet I 5 of spiral or volute form in cross section as viewed in Figs. 7 and 8 and composed of a series of semicircular outer plates secured together end to end the iioating tube plate I3 and secured to the plates. One end of the central spiral guide sheet section I3 is ixed within slots 25 (see Fig. 9) formed in pins 2| mounted within openings 22 formed in the rigid tube plate 5, while the opposite end'of the central guide sheet section proyjects within the opening I5 of the floating tube plate I3 and is slotted at 23 to tit over the bolt bosses on the floating tube plate, so that the central section is ilrmly held in position. Arranged within the cooling chamber midway between the tube plates is a-.vertical guide sheet support 24 in the form of a plate to which the adjacent ends of the outer guide sheet sections are secured, this guide sheet support being formed with a central Opening 25 shaped to conform with the outer surface of the spiral guide sheet section Il-and through which the latter extends in the manner disclosed. The guide sheet support 24 has projecting from its opposite sides lugs 25 to which the adjacent` ends of the outer guide sheet sections are secured as by bolts 21, and the inner sides of the tube 'plates 3 and I3 have similar projecting lugs 23 tojvhich the opposite ends oi the outer guide sheet sections are secured. The

guide sheet support is therefore arranged intermediate and supports the outer guide sheet sections, while the central guide sheet sections extend through the central opening in the`sup port throughout the full length of the cooling 80 chamber. It will thus be seen that the cooling chamber is divided into a spiral or volute passage, "so that as the fluid to be cooled flows from the receiving chamber 3 centrally through the floating header and tube plate and into the lon- 6`5 gitudinal open center 25 of the spiral guide sheet,

the fluid flowing in a spiral or volute path in a direction transversely relative to the length of the cooling chamber 2.

Now referring to the improved cooling means 70 associated with the spiral flow passage for cooling the fluid, it will be noted that formed at one end of the intercooler shell at the top side of the Intercooler is a boss 30 having a passage 3| communicating with a water inlet 'pipe 32, and this 75 passage 3I is connected through an arcuate slot 33 formed in the rigid tube plate 6 with the top compartment 34 of the water space in the outer header 1. The compartments of the water spaces in the outer header 1 and the iioating header I2 are separated by partitions and correspond to the convolution of the spiral flow passage for the fluid to be cooled, and the top compartment 34 is connected by a. series of substantially horizontal cooling tubes 35 extending longitudinally through the spiral ow passage 29 and communicating with the upper compartment 36 in the floating header I2. The compartment 36 is in turn con- Apassage to a compartment 40 formed in the floating header I2. 'Ihe compartment 40 is connected by similar parallel cooling tubes to a compartment 4I formed in the outside header 1; and i the compartment 4I is connected by similar cooling tubes extending longitudinally through the fluid passage to a compartment 42 formed in the floating header I2. The compartment 42 is connected by similar parallel cooling tubes to a compartment-43 formed in the outside header 1, the compartment 43 in turn being connected to signicooling tubes extending longitudinally through the fluid passage to a compartment 44 formed in the floating header. ment 44 is connected by similar cooling tubes to a compartment 45 formed in the outside header, and the compartment 45 is in turn connected by similar cooling tubes extending longitudinally through the fluid passage to a compartment 45 iormedin the oating header. 'Ihe compartment 45 is connected by similar cooling tubes to a compartment 41 formed in an outside header, the compartment 41 in turn being connected through similar cooling tubes extending longitudinally through the iluid passage to a compartment 45 formed in the floating header. The compartment 48 is connected by similar cooling tubes extending through the fluid passage to a central chamber 43 formed in the outside header 1, this chamber being connected by a vertical passage 50 with arcuate passages 5 I, 5I communicating at their juncture with a chamber 52 at the bottom of the outside header. The chamber 52 is connected by anl arcuate slot 53 in the rigid tube plate 5 with a 54 formed in a boss 55 at the bottom of the Intercooler shell directly below the inlet boss 30,' as shown in Fig. 3. This passage 54 communicates with a water discharge fpipe 55. It will thus be-seen that the cooling liquid flows through the cooling tubes longitudinally back and forth through the spiral fluid passage in a zig-zag fashion and in a generally counter-current direction in relation to the iluid owing through the fluid passage, the coolest iluid in the fluid passage, in this instance, contacting with the coolest portions oi the cooling tubes. As shown in Figs. 3 and 5. the cooling liquid compartments 34, 4I and 41 communicate with the' vertical passage 5|! through horizontal passages 50 to prevent trapping of fluid and resultant air pocketing, and

Tle compartconnected by vertical passages Il. A liquid drain is provided for receiving the condensed liquid in the intercooler chamber, and this drain vcomprises a ,Bump i! formed in the lower portion of the lntercooler shell and separated by vertical banles .llfhaving bottom openings 84, and-the liquid o'r other matter separated from the fluid and receivedin this drain wmp,- is discharged through i suitable drain pipe li. A detachable hand holecover Il is provided for obtaining access to the interior of the drain sump. The bottom surfaces of theshell at the bottom of the cooling chambermay be inclined toward the drain sump so that the separated liquid may drain from the cooling chamber into 'the sump.

The operation of the improved intercooler will be clearly apparent from the description given. -Assuming the fluid compressor with whichthe heat exchanger may be-associated to be in operation, compressed fluid entering the horizontal lntake connection I will flow through the lateral aperture 9 into the nuid ,receiving'chamber within the shell, the fluid ilowing from the chamber 3 centrally throughthe openings in the oating tube plate and header into* the open center Il of the spiral guide sheet and thence the iiuid flows through the spiral'passage provided by the guide sheet and discharges 'i'rom the passage at the inner periphery of the Intercooler shell and-passes out from the intercooler through the lateral opening Il and the horizontal dis-l charge connection Il. Asthe fluid flows through the spiral passage provided by the guide sheet, cooling liquid flows through the inlet pipe 32, passages- 3|, 33 to the upper compartment Il of the liquid space in the outer header, the cooling liquid flowing from this `fupper compartment through the cooling-tubes extending longitudinelly through 4the spiral fluid passage to the upper compartment 36 of -the water space in the `floating header, the cooling liquid owing back and forth longitudinally 4through the cooling tubes from one compartment to another in a zig-zag fashion and in a generally counter-current direction in relation to the fluid flowing through the spiral fluid passage, the cooling liquid finally flowing `to chamber 52 of the outer header and discharging through passages 53, 54 and the discharge pipe li. It will thus be seen that the cooling liquid flows successively across through some tubes and back through others in zig-Zag fashion, and the i'luid; to be cooled flows with a spiral motion through the spiral passage past the cooling `tubes, the cooling liquid flowing back'and forth across the path oi' fluid flow in a generally counter-current' direction in relation to the fluid nowing through the passage, and the coolest fluid discharging from the cooling chamber at the coolest portions of the cooling tubes.` As the fluid ows over the spiral guide sheet through-the cooling chamber, any moisture or other matter entrainedby the fluid will be separated 'from the uid,'and the vide, in a relatively restricted space, a lengthy travel of fluid to be cooled in contact with the rugged in design, having relatively few com.

ponent` parts, and of substantial emciency. These and other uses and advantages of the improved 1 heat exchanger will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art. 1

While there isvin this application specifically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shownrfor purposes of illus-- tration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims,

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a heat exchange device, a casing, an outer header secured to one end of said casing, an end cover 'for thewopposite end of said casing, an inner floating header slidably mounted in said casing, a spiral guide sheet arranged in said casing between said headers and secured at its ends to the latter, said guide sheet providing a spiral flow passagev through lwhich the iluid to be cooled liquid spaces with which said tubes communicate,

2. In a heat exchange device, a casing, an outer header secured to one end of said casing, an end cover for the opposite end of said casing, an inner oating header slidably mounted in said casing. a spiral guide sheet arranged in said casing between said headers andgsecured at its ends to the latter, said guide sheet providing a spiral flow passage through which the fluid to be cooled flows ina spiral path, and coolingmeans for the fluid including cooling t'ubes extending'longitudinally through said spiral flow passage and connected to said headers, saidheaders having liquid spaces vwith which said tubes communicate, said liquid spaces divided into compartments by partitions and the tubes connecting said compartments so that the cooling liquid flows back and forth longitudinally of the flow passage through the tubes in a zig-zag, fashion and in a generally `countercurrent direction in relation to the fluid ilowing through said spiral ilow passage.

3. In a heat exchange device, a casing, an outer header secured to one end of said casing, an end cover for the opposite end of said casing, an inner floating header slidably mounted in said casing, a spiral guide sheet arranged in said casing between said headers and secured at its ends to the latter, said guide sheet providing a spiral flow passage through which the fluid to be cooled flowsin aspiral path. and cooling means for the 'fluid including cooling tubes extendinglongitudlnally through said spiral ow passage4 and connected to said headers, said headers having liquid spaces with which said tubes communicate, and means for supplying cooling liquid to the top of the liquid space of said outer header and discharging liquid from the bottom of the liquid space of the same header.

4. In a heat exchange device, a casing, an outer header secured to one end of said casing, an'end cover for the opposite end of said casing, an inner floating header slidably mounted in said casing. a spiralguide sheet arranged in said casing betweensaidheadersa'ndsecuredatitsends to the latter; said guide sheet providing a spiral iiow Passage'tbrough which the fluid to be cooled flows in"'a spiral path, and cooling means for the iluid including cooling tubesA extending longitudinally through said spiral ilow passage and connected toasaid headers. said headers 'havlnglllilid spaces with which said tubes communicate, said liquid divided into compartments by partitions and' the tubes connecting said compartments so that the cooling liquid flows back and forth longit nally of the'nuid passage through the tu n a. zig-zag fashion and in a generally counte -current direction in relation to the iiuid through said iluid passage. and means for cooling liquid to the top compartment charging liquid from the bottom compartment of the liquid space of the same header.

5. In an intercooler. a easing. an internal shoulder between the ends of said casing and dividing the casing into a cooling chamber' and a iiuid receiving chamber, said shoulder having a bore, an outer header closing the outer end of said cooling chamber, an end cover closing the outer end of said iluid receiving chamber, a rigid tube plate-interposed between said outer iheader and the adjacent end oi said casing. a

floating header guided in said shoulder bore, a iloating tube plate secured lto said floating header, means arranged in said cooling chamber between said headers and secured to the latter for Drovidingaspiralpassagethroughwhichthe iluid to be cooled flows in a spiral path. said headers formed with cooling liquid spaces, and tubes secured to said tube plates for conducting the cooling liquidback and forth between said headers, said tubes extending longitudinally through said spiral fluid passage, the direction of liquid ilow throughv said tubes being generally counter-current in relation to the direction of iluid flow through the spiral passage.

6. In a heat exchange device, a horizontal shell, means arranged within said shell providing a substantially spiral e for the uid to be cooled. tube headers constituting the ends oi' said iluid passage, said headers having formed therein cooling liquid spaces corresponding generally to the convolution of the iiuid Passage. and substantially horizontal cooling tubes connected with said liquid spaces and extending longitudinally through said vfluid passage, said liquid spaces each divided by partitions so disposed that liquid admitted to one of the liquid spaces will flow successively across through some tubes and back through others in zig-zag fashion and in a generally counter-current direction in relation to the fluid ilowing through the iluid passage.

7. In a heat exchange device, a horizontal shell, means arranged within said shell providing a substantially spiral passage for the iluld to be cooled, tube headers constituting the ends of said fluid passage, said headers having formed therein cooling liquid spaces corresponding generally to the convolution of the iluid passage, substantialiy horizontal cooling tubes connected with said liquid spaces and extending longitudinally through said fluid passage,said liquid spaces each divided by partitions so disposed that liquid admitted to one of the liquid spaces will now successively across through seme tubes and back amen thmthothersinsig-sagfashion andinagenerally counter-current direction in relation to the huid nowing through'the fluid passage, and means for supplying cooling liquid to the top ot the liquid space in one header and discharging thecoolingliquidfromthebottomoftheliquid space in the same header.

8. In a heat exchange device, a horizontal shell, means arranged within said shell providing a substantially spiral e for the fluid to be cooled, tube headers constituting the endsA of said fluid passage. said headers having formed therein cooling liquid spaces corresponding generally to the convolutionlof the duid passage, substantially horizontal cooling tubes connected with said liquid spaces and extending longitudinally through said huid passage, said liquid spaces each divided by partitions so disposed that liquid admitted to one oi' the liquid spaces will flow successively across through some tubes and back through others in sig-sag fashion and in a generally countercurrent direction in relation to the fluid ilowing through the huid passage means for conducting the iluid to be cooled into the shell at one end of said fluid passage and for discharging the cooled fluid from the shell at the opposite end of the fluid e, and means at the same end oi the shell as said fluid discharge for conducting cooling liquid to one header and for dischargingthe liquid from the same header.

9. In aheat exchange device, a horizontal shell, means arranged within said shell providing a substantially spiral passage for the fluid to be cooled, tube headers constituting the ends of said fluid passage, said headers having formed therein cooling liquid spaces 'corresponding generally to the convolution of the fluid e, substantially horizontal cooling tubes connected with said liquid spaces and extending longitudinally through the iluid passage, said liquid spaces each divided by partitions so disposed that liquid admitted to one of the liquid spaces will ilow successively across through some tubes and back through others in sig-zag fashion and in a generally counter-current direction in relation to the iiuid flowing through the uid passage, and means for admitting cooling liquid to and discharging the liquid from the liquid space at one end of tle shell.

l0. In a heat exchange device, a. horizontal shell, means arranged in said shell providing a substantially spiral passage for the iluid to be cooled, tube headers constituting the ends of said huid e, said headers having formed therein cooling liquid spaces corresponding generally to the convolution of the uid passage, and substantially horizontal cooling tubes connected with said liquid spaces and extending longitudinally through the fluid passage, said liquid spaces each divided by partitions so disposed that liquid admitted to one oi' the liquid spaces will flow successively across through some tubes and back through others in zig-sag fashion and in a generally counter-current direction in relation to the huid owing through the iluid passage, the inner end of the fluid passage communicating with a central opening: in one of the tube headers, said tube header opening having a peripheral wall lying to the inside of the liquid space in the header, the outer end of said fluid passage formed with a peripheral opening, and the central opening serving as a iluid intake passage andv the peripheral opening as a fluid outlet.

WIN W. PAGET. 

